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]In each episode of GCCX, Chief Arino tackles difficult games. How are the titles chosen?

INOUE: First, the AD tests out various games based on writer suggestions or Internet info. The AD sums up the contents of the games and what makes them fun, then presents them in a meeting.

The summary include the games' "degree of fun" and "degree of difficulty" rated out of five stars, judged by the AD, but these rarely matter (laughs). In the end, the AD plays the games at the meeting, and the show staff make their selection together as they discuss things like, "Arino might enjoy this kind of game."

After a game is chosen for a challenge, a more detailed summary is written up. The staff writer, AD, and Director gather together and the three of them have a meeting. That's where they think up various gimmicks they could include during the filming.

Currently, AD Matsui is in charge of looking for games to use in challenges, but I was in charge of that when I was an AD. With Arino having played over 150 titles, it's tougher to find games now than it was back in my day. Once in a while, you'll hear someone in the office exclaim, "There's no more games to play!"

]Yourself included, many staff members appear on this show. Is there anything the staff has to keep in mind or be careful about when appearing in front of the cameras?

INOUE: I've done all kinds of things on the show in the past, such as doing impressions, wearing a helmet, cosplaying as a game character... but those are bad examples (laughs). The staff members are cautioned not to get too carried away. Also, to not be embarrassed. Embarrassment infects the other staff members.

]Do you get recognized on the streets?

INOUE: Honestly, every staff member who makes regular appearances on the show get recognized, more or less. Former AP Toujima has an easily recognizable face, and he says he gets called out quite often. Once, a man in a surgical mask called out, "Toujimaaa!" to him, and it turned out to be Yamasato from the comedy duo Nankai Candies. You would think the opposite would happen (laughs).

Former AP Nakayama currently works for a different company, but he's also easily recognizable, so he gets called out a lot. So he wears a surgical mask to avoid being recognized, apparently. What an ego! (laughs)

As for me, people just go, "Hey, it's Inoko MAX!" and they don't really try to talk to me... I get the rough treatment from the fans, too.

]What left the biggest impression on you in the history of the show?

INOUE: The "Mighty Bomb Jack" episode that happened during my first year on the show as an AD. This was a normal challenge, but Arino couldn't clear it even after three days. Urakawa, the helper AD before me (currently the show's director), was very good at games. An AD who's good at games makes it easier for Arino to clear games. At the time, I thought, "If only I were a little better, he could've cleared it..." Perhaps I was self-conscious, but I blamed myself and thought I messed up. On top of that, day three of the challenge, I arrived to work late that morning. I messed up even before the challenge started that day, so I couldn't look my superiors in the eyes during filming...

Also, for day three of the challenge, I prepared an extra cart where I raised the number of lives to 32; however, just in case Arino couldn't clear it with those, I had yet another cart with 32 lives prepared. It was supposed to be a secret from Arino, so I tried to hide it somehow. I must've been frazzled from being tardy to work -- I hid the extra Famicom with a cushion that was clearly too heavy, and the Famicom glitched out. I come to work late, I screw up the pre-prepared Famicom... I'm a failure both as a person of society and a helper AD (bitter laugh).

After that, Arino took on "Mighty Bomb Jack" in front of his fans at Hitotsubashi Hall. I think his touching completion of the game makes up for all my failures in those three days (laughs). But actually... I was late to that live challenge, too.

]As a member of the show's staff, what do you think makes this program and Chief Arino so appealing?

INOUE: Arino only gives up on his game challenges when we put an end to them. No matter how long he plays for, no matter how tough the game is, he keeps playing without giving up or complaining. The staff appreciates this very much, and I think it's what makes Arino so amazing.

The show now pretty much feels like "Arino and Company." Arino leads the pack and creates the atmosphere, and I think that's huge. Thanks to him, the filmings feel very laid-back. I've talked about this with other directors -- after attending a meeting or filming for other programs, filming this show is rather calming... There must be very few shows where the staff can say that.

Also, staff members who've left the company still appear on the show once in a while. I think it's because Mr. Kan (the show's producer and co-creator) creates that kind of inviting atmosphere. Of course, Arino is very warm and welcoming, too. Many former staff members appear in the upcoming movie, but it's probably because they all wanted to (laughs).